João Gonçalves (footballer, born 1988)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is do Espírito Santo and the second or paternal family name is Gonçalves.

João Pedro do Espírito Santo Gonçalves (born 18 January 1988) is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a right back.

João Gonçalves

Personal information
Full name	João Pedro do Espírito Santo Gonçalves[1]
Date of birth	(1988-01-18) 18 January 1988 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth	Amadora, Portugal[1]
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s)	Right back
Youth career
1996–2007	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2013	Sporting CP	0	(0)
2007–2008	→ Olivais Moscavide (loan)	29	(4)
2008–2012	→ Olhanense (loan)	66	(1)
2012–2013	Sporting CP B	3	(0)
2012–2013	→ Vitória Guimarães (loan)	3	(0)
Total		101	(5)
International career
2009–2010	Portugal U21	9	(0)
Managerial career
2013–2016	Sporting CP (assistant youth)
2016–2017	Sporting CP B (assistant)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Amadora, Lisbon, Gonçalves joined Sporting CP's youth system at only eight, but never appeared for the club officially, being loaned for the duration of his spell. He represented C.D. Olivais e Moscavide (third division), S.C. Olhanense (Segunda Liga and Primeira Liga)^[2][3] and Vitória de Guimarães (top tier).^[4]

Gonçalves spent three of his four years with Algarve's Olhanense in the top flight, appearing in 21 games in the 2010–11 season (all starts, one goal against Vitória de Setúbal in a 3–1 home win)^[5] to help his team rank in 11th place. He retired in June 2013 at the age of only 25, due to recurrent knee injuries.^[6][7]

International career

Gonçalves won 48 caps for Portugal across all youth levels, including nine for the under-21 side.